Sleep Apnea: A Situation You Don’t Want to Sleep On

Sleep Apnea: A Situation You Don’t Want to Sleep On

It can be extremely worrisome to wake up in the middle of the night to find yourself choking and sputtering for breath. Unfortunately, this happens all too often for the more than 18 million people across the U.S. who have sleep apnea.

Sleep apnea, which affects both adults and children, causes interruptions in breathing patterns while asleep, preventing a good night’s worth of rest. Without the proper amount of oxygen intake, individuals suffering from sleep apnea will drift from restorative REM sleep into light sleep. As a result, they typically will feel unrefreshed and exhibit symptoms of excessive daytime sleepiness.

Commonly associated with heavy snoring, several factors may contribute to the development of sleep apnea, such as high levels of obesity or inherited physical characteristics. Left untreated, sleep apnea can lead to more serious health issues, including high blood pressure, cardiac arrhythmia, stroke and heart attack.

Don’t sleep on the possibility of sleep apnea. If you or someone you love is exhibiting signs and symptoms of sleep apnea, seek help from a professional sleep specialist. To schedule an appointment with one of our FusionSleep board-certified sleep specialists in Atlanta, call (678) 990-3962 today.